Gallatin County CES

Title:

Outdoor Recreation

MAP:

Healthy Communities

Agents Involved:

Hull, Stewart

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Active Living and Health Promotions General

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Trail Design

Situation:

Outdoor recreation is key in helping address some of today’s pressing health care issues. Creating walkable and bike-able areas and making improvements
to the built environment can encourage active living and better overall health for the community at large.

It's been shown that parks, trails and other recreational amenities create places where people want to live, work and play. The improvement and/or expansion of current outdoor recreation areas can have a positive impact on a community's economic development.

Long-Term Outcomes:

- Expansion of existing outdoor recreation areas (ORA's)
- Creation of new ORA's
- Establishment of funding source expressly for outdoor recreation
- "Friends of Gallatin ORA's" group formed to help maintain outdoor areas

Intermediate Outcomes:

- Greater number of citizens utilizing current ORA's
- Establishment of a county organization to help oversee and give guidance to county leadership in matters pertaining to ORA's
- Obtain funding for equipment necessary for ORA trail creation and maintenance
- Organized outdoor recreation events throughout the calendar year

Initial Outcomes:

- Marketing plan for outdoor recreation opportunities and events in the county
- More county residents will become acquainted with county ORA's
- 2 organized outdoor recreation events at county ORA's

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: More county residents will become acquainted with county ORA's

Indicator: Creation of ORA Marketing Plan

Method: YES or NO

Timeline: 3 - 6 months

Intermediate Outcome: Increase or programs and education lessons at ORA

Indicator: Greater number of citizens utilizing county ORA's

Method: Survey instruments, digital counters at ORA entrances

Timeline: 12 months

Long-term Outcome: Increase number of ORA's volunteers and leaders.

Indicator: More Gallatin Countians are volunteering organizing programs at the ORAs in the community

Method: tabulation

Timeline: 18 - 24 months

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Gallatin County Residents

Project or Activity: ORA Field Day at newest county park

Content or Curriculum: Informal gathering designed to highlight the new park's many opportunities for outdoor recreation, i.e., hiking, horseback riding, fishing, etc.

Inputs: Locally developed park maps and brochures, tractors and wagons

Date: Fall 2023

Audience: Gallatin County Residents

Project or Activity: Wildflower Walks

Content or Curriculum: Agent, specialist, or leader led program designed to show the many species of wildflowers present at county ORA's

Inputs: Wildflower manuals, event promotion

Date: Spring 2024

Audience: Gallatin County Residents

Project or Activity: "Hiking Hartig" series

Content or Curriculum: Agent led physical fitness program wherein participants will meet weekly for a month and hike different parts of Hartig Nature Preserve

Inputs: Program promotion

Date: Fall 2023